Photographing the moon: Hi Guys, Two nights ago I took some photos of the moon but all I got was a white blob. I shot with a Canon 5D Mk2 with 2.8 70-200 and 2X extender fitted and...

Shaughnessy Loc: East Sussex

Hi Guys, Two nights ago I took some photos of the moon but all I got was a white blob. I shot with a Canon 5D Mk2 with 2.8 70-200 and 2X extender fitted and tried a load of various exposures down to underexposing by 2 stops. There have been some brilliant moon photos on UHH recently and I would like to know what I'm doing wrong, if anyone can advise, please.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

If you read the notes in many a post you will see the exposures given and how to do it though some people don't say, it would help if everyone did.

As I have said in many, 1/250th to 1/500th of a second at ISO400 f5.6 is a starting place.

This is what I do

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/Moon-3.jpg

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/Image1-15.jpg

This is the setup, D3100 for light weight, 80mm Skywatcher APO refractor and William Optics ALTAZ mount on EQ6 legs.

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/jser1/scope.jpg

Many here though use 400mm or 500mm ends of their zooms

susie-q-tip Loc: Mississippi/Texas

Here's book that will probably be very helpful when trying to photograph the moon and stars. I'm considering buying it
myself.
http://philhart.com/shooting-stars

Shaughnessy Loc: East Sussex

Thanks for the info JR, I'll try those settings the next time, that's a super set up you have, and thank you Suzie for taking the time to help.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Shaughnessy wrote:

Hi Guys, Two nights ago I took some photos of the moon but all I got was a white blob. I shot with a Canon 5D Mk2 with 2.8 70-200 and 2X extender fitted and tried a load of various exposures down to underexposing by 2 stops. There have been some brilliant moon photos on UHH recently and I would like to know what I'm doing wrong, if anyone can advise, please.

S, I think there are several moon posts as we speak. Sunny 16 is good. I was taught once a rule thats much easier to remember and is a good starting point.
It's , 100/100/100. That's speed 100. ISO 100 and f-10.0. It will get you in the ballpark.
Good luck.
PS, there seems to be a rash of moon questions every 30 days or so. Hmmm?

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Shaughnessy wrote:

Hi Guys, Two nights ago I took some photos of the moon but all I got was a white blob. I shot with a Canon 5D Mk2 with 2.8 70-200 and 2X extender fitted and tried a load of various exposures down to underexposing by 2 stops. There have been some brilliant moon photos on UHH recently and I would like to know what I'm doing wrong, if anyone can advise, please.

Hey Doc ..... if you have a big white blob you're way overexposed .....

..... without a pic,, just a guess and I'd bet on that guess .....

..... shooting the moon is like shooting a light source, you letting in too much light

Shaughnessy Loc: East Sussex

Thanks Wabbit for shining a light on the subject

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Shaughnessy wrote:

Thanks Wabbit for shining a light on the subject

Hey Doc ..... ok, but I don't have too many friends in the UK right now, you ain't got a baseball bat behind ya do ya .....

mikemilton

As mentioned, the exposure is tricky.... Remember that while you are in darkness, it is a sunny day on the moon. Even using spot metering this can be tricky but you can use the 'sunny 16' guideline.

That would suggest an exposure of 100ISO, 1/100sec, F16

Of course, everything else will be blackened. One solution to this is essentially the same as taking an HDR image. Use a tripod, take the exposure above then take the same scene at an exposure appropriate to the background and combine them in post (you can use an hdr program or you can just cut the moon image and paste it into the other)

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Wabbit wrote:

Hey Doc ..... ok, but I don't have too many friends in the UK right now, you ain't got a baseball bat behind ya do ya .....

Cricket bat - or, being a Shaughnessy, maybe a hurling stick!

Farol Loc: Florida

Check the moon setting and rising times. Pick the day when it rises or sets around the same time as dusk or dawn. The light is much better for easier settings - plus the moon appears bigger.

dzs1945 Loc: Lancaster, Pa

Was that pic taken from upstairs or downstairs?

JR1 wrote:

If you read the notes in many a post you will see ... (show quote)

The Saint KK4GO Loc: Florida

Shaughnessy wrote:

Hi Guys, Two nights ago I took some photos of the moon but all I got was a white blob. I shot with a Canon 5D Mk2 with 2.8 70-200 and 2X extender fitted and tried a load of various exposures down to underexposing by 2 stops. There have been some brilliant moon photos on UHH recently and I would like to know what I'm doing wrong, if anyone can advise, please.

Mine was 400mm @ f/11, ISO 100 on a tripod with mirror locked up and timer set to 10 sec delay.

Oh, and T=1/30 sec.

F16 Club

Shaughnessy wrote:

Hi Guys, Two nights ago I took some photos of the moon but all I got was a white blob. I shot with a Canon 5D Mk2 with 2.8 70-200 and 2X extender fitted and tried a load of various exposures down to underexposing by 2 stops. There have been some brilliant moon photos on UHH recently and I would like to know what I'm doing wrong, if anyone can advise, please.

Hi Shaughnessy:
Moon beside far away object, is very shine and high contrast environment, so my suggestion is as follow: For sure you have at home some floruecent light if circular better, so set you zoom full, camera in manual mode, spot or ponderate mettering, look for the best exposition on lamp shot and in the best exposition and details you find, take the shot on the moon, if tripod better, in hand held alway will be some blur.
Good Luck.

Algol Loc: Georgia

Good discussion and answers, but they have been covered in Astrophotography Forum. Please post Moon images and questions there. Thank you everyone for the good answers.